On day two, South Africa found themselves in a good position, thanks to a resilient and masterfully crafted 69 from Marizanne Kapp, helping the visitors reach 236/4 at stumps here on Saturday. After India declared their innings following a monumental Test score, South Africa’s response shimmered with improvement from their overnight stance.
India’s pacers, relentless in their quest for breakthroughs, were met with sturdy resistance, prompting the astute Harmanpreet Kaur to summon her spinners. The spinners spun webs of opportunity, yet India’s bowlers saw many golden chances slip away, including a couple of elusive runout opportunities. Amidst this, Sune Luus shone brightly with a composed 65 off 164 balls before being ensnared by Deepti Sharma’s wiles (1/40).
In the morning session, India fortified their dominance by adding 78 runs to their overnight tally, ascending to a towering total of 603/6. Harmanpreet (69), with grace and determination, reached her maiden Test fifty, while Richa Ghosh (86), with equal flair, notched her second, though both missed the chance to turn these fifties into centuries. India’s declaration, a strategic move, came in the wake of Richa’s departure.
The post-lunch session unveiled a pitch full of surprises. Laura Wolvaardt (20) was ensnared by a low bounce, and Anneke Bosch, amidst a flurry of powerful strikes and near-misses, succumbed to Sneh Rana for a spirited 39 off 73 balls. India, poised for more, saw another chance slip when Richa dropped a catch off Luus.
With Kapp steadfast at the crease, South Africa’s primary aim on day three will be to stave off the follow-on. The pitch, with its hints of inconsistent bounce, promises to weave a compelling narrative into the coming play. As the tension mounts and the stakes rise, fans are bracing themselves for the exhilarating day of cricket that lies ahead.
Brief Scores:
South Africa 236/4 (Stumps, Day 2): Marizanne Kapp 69*, Sune Luus 65, Senh Rana 3/61. India 603/6 declared: Shafali Verma 205, Smriti Mandhana 149, Richa Ghosh 86, Harmanpreet Kaur 69, and Jemmimah Rodrigues 55. South Africa trail by 367 runs.
